MN Boys’ Hockey Hub

Edina rallies to beat Burnsville

Miguel Fidler (12) of Edina moves the puck up the ice during the second period. Photo by Katherine Matthews

Miguel Fidler plays right on the line. And by line, we aren’t talking about blue line.

No, Fidler plays with what he calls “controlled anger.” Which means he might take a penalty from time to time. He might draw one, too.

That’s the line.

“They all try to get me going,” Fidler said about opposing players trying to bait him into taking penalties. “A couple years a go I might retaliate, but I’ve learned to control it a little bit.”

Now Fidler is the one drawing penalties. And scoring goals.

He scored the biggest one of the season so far for the No. 3-ranked Hornets on Friday night as they rallied from a three-goal deficit to stun No. 10 Burnsville 4-3 in overtime in the semifinals of the Schwan Cup Gold Division at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.

After a shot from the point caromed of end board behind the net, Matt Masterman partially fanned on his shooting attempt. Fidler, who has a knack for finding loose pucks in front of the goal, made no mistake in pounding the puck into an open net. His goal came just 42 seconds into the overtime period and vaulted the Hornets into Saturday’s championship game against Hill-Murray.

Fidler scoring in overtime shouldn’t come as much of surprise, given that Edina coach Curt Giles describes the senior forward as, “One of those guys who is frustrating to play against because he doesn’t stop. He won’t quit.”

Fidler’s physical playing style leads to a numerous collisions in the corner and elsewhere. He’s been known to do some talking out on the ice, too.

“Not a fun person to play against,” Masterman, a junior, said about his linemate. “He can be frightening. He’s just an all-around player -- plays the body, scores goals.”

Burnsville surged to a 3-0 lead through two periods thanks in part to two goals by senior Cole Borchardt. Edina gradually gained momentum in the second period, when they launched 20 shots at Burnsville goaltender Dyllan Lubbesmeyer but could not hit the back of the net.

“I think some of the seniors, and even the younger guys, we all stayed calm,” Fidler said. “I think earlier in the season we would have gotten a little freaked out. We knew we could pull it back together, and we did.”

Cullen Munson opened the scoring for Edina 45 seconds into the third period, Tyler Nanne scored 4 minutes into the session and Dylan Malmquist tied it with 3:50 remaining.